Addressing a rally of rickshaw owners held under the banner of Awami Rickshaw Union on Sunday, the JI chief said that people were giving up their lives due to poverty while public reps were only amassing wealth with both hands.

“Labour class is busy in uplifting the country while rulers are plundering the public money,” he remarked, adding that every Pakistani born was under debt of Rs80,000.

The rally began at the Nasir Park and ended at Lahore Press Club. Dozens of rickshaws and motorcycle riders joined the rally.

Sirajul Haq demanded prompt completion of the Pak-Iran gas pipeline project, in order to overcome the shortage in the country. “This project has been disrupted under US pressure, as the western powers never want economic development in Pakistan,” the JI chief said.

Talking about the polarity in the official behaviour of city traffic wardens, he said that where poor rickshaw driver get heavily fined for some minor mistake a VIP receives salute even after traffic rule violation. “Such a system of injustice and exploitation cannot continue anymore,” he declared.

On the occasion, JI Punjab chief Dr Waseem Akhtar demanded an end to police excesses against the rickshaw drivers, urging Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif to take notice of the matter.